Puzzle rolling-pin.



. No. 895,710; PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908.

J.- G. ALLEN.

PUZZLE ROLLING PIN. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1907.

wwweooo f UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

JAMES G. ALLEN, OF UBLY, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES F. VAN NEST, OF UBLY, MICHIGAN.

PUZZLE ROLLING-PIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11', 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES G. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ubly, in the county of Huron and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Puzzle Rolling-Pin, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a puzzle rolling pin.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive puzzle rolling pin, designed particularly for use as an advertising novelty, and adapted to afiord considerable amusement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a puzzle rolling pin having a pin or handle member rotatable freely within the roller or body of the rolling pin, and retained therein by concealed locking devices, which are adapted to be thrown out of engagement with the pin through centrifugal force, when the body of the rolling pin is rapidly rotated or spun by a cord, piece of rubber, or similar flexible means.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed outin the claims hereto appended it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a puzzle rolling pin, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 00-00 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the circular support. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a puzzle rolling pin, showing a modification of the invention. Fig. 6 is an elevation, showing the rolling .pin in an inclined position with the cord Wound therearound for separating the hollow outer rotary member from the handle member.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawin 1 designates a hollow roller, consisting of a cylindrical shell of wood, or any other suitable material, and having its inner surface counter-bored at its ends to provide enlarged end openings 3 and interior annular shoulders 4. The exterior of the hollow roller may be ornamented in a variety of ways, or may be covered with advertising matter, and the interior of the roller between the shoulders 4 is preferably open, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of thedrawing, to provide a concealed interior compartment or chamber for the reception of various articles, such as candy, small toys, and other prizes.

Within the enlarged opening at one end of the hollow body is arranged a circular support or head 5, consisting of a cylindrical plug of wood, or any other suitable material, and forming a closure for that end of the hollow roller. The support 5, which is glued or otherwise fixed to the hollow roller, is provided with a central 0 ening 6, through which passes a in or andle member 7, which is provide with an integral closure 8, consisting of a cylindrical head or flange and arranged within the enlarged portion of the opening 2 at the other end of the roller. The handle member is preferably constructed of wood, and the head or closure 8 fits against the adjacent shoulder 4 and is adapted to rotate freely within the hollow roller. By leaving the space between the heads or closures open, the puzzle rolling pin may be constructed exceedingly light in weight besides providing a concealed chamber or compartment, but the circular support or plug may extend from one end of the roller to the other, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing, should it not be desirable to provide a concealed interior chamber or compartment. The ends of the hollow roller project slightly beyond the outer face of the closures, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The combined support and closure 5 is provided with an annular groove 9 to receive the bowed spring 10 and it has radially arranged opemngs 11 in which a air of radially arranged dogs 12 slide. hese dogs, which are normally held in engagement with the annular groove 13 of the pin or handle member, are adapted to be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, and they are provided at their outer ends with heads 14, which are arranged in enlarged portions 15 of radially arranged openings. The heads are provided with central recesses or sockets 16, and the spring, which is substantially semi-circular, has its terminals 17 bent inso-p throw the dogs out of engagement with the handle member by centrifugal force. The cord or other flexible or elastic connection is wound around the roller, and the pin or handle member is held at an inclination between the thumb and finger, so as to permit the roller or body portion to rotate freely. The roller or body portion is then rapidly rotated by quickly drawing the cord outward and downward. This throws the dogs out of engagement with the grooves of the handle member, and also serves to move the roller or body portion downwardly onthe in or handle member to carry the conceale lock- 'ing devices away from the annular groove,

and thereby prevent the dogs from reengaging the pin or handle member, when the spring again moves them inwardly.

In the modification illustratedin Fig. 5 of the drawing, the plug or su port 18 extends from one end of the outer shell or body portion 19 to the other end thereof, the end edges 20 of the shell or body portion being faces of the plug or support 18. The locking devices 21 consist of dogs, constructed similar to those heretofore described, and arranged in radial openings, located at the center of the plug or support. The radial openings are connected by a groove 22, and t e dogs are engaged by a bowed spring 23. The annular groove 24, which is engaged by the dogs, is located at the center of the pin or handle member. The form of invention shown in Fig. 5 is operatedin the same manner as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

7 Although the device is illustrated in the form of a rolling in, yet it will be apparent that the inner an outer rotary members and the concealed lockin devices, which areop erated by centrifuga force, may be utilized in other forms than that-of a rolling pin.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 A puzzle comprising a hollow outer rotary member, asupport secured within and rotating with the outer member and provided with radially arranged openings, an inner member, radially arranged dogs guided in the openings and engagin the inner member, and a bowed spring partia ly surrounding the support and having its ends connected with the dogs for moving the same inwardly.

2. A puzzle comprising an outer rotary member, a circular su port secured within the outer member an rotating therewith, said support being provided around its periphery with openings and having a connect-,

referably projected slightly beyond the end ing groove, an inner member, locking de vices operating in the openings of the support for engaging the inner member and adapted to be disengaged therefrom through centrifugal force, and a spring located in the groove of the support and engaging the locking devices for moving the same inwardly.

3. A puzzle comprising a hollow outer rotary member, a support secured withinand rotating with the outer member, said support having a circumferential groove and provided with radially arranged openings having enlarged outer portions, dogs operating in the openings and having heads located in the enlarged portions thereof, a spring located in the groove and connecting the dogs and arranged to move the same inwardly, and an inner member engaged by the dogs.

4. A puzzle comprising a hollow outer member having a compartment or chamber, an inner member extending through the outer member and carrying a closure forconcealing the said compartment or chamber, and looking means engaging the inner member for retaming the closure in place, said locking means being adapted to be operated by centrifugalforce to release the inner member and the closure.

5. A puzzle comprising a hollow outer member, a support secured within one end of the hollow member and forming an end wall for the same, an inner member extending through the outer member and carrying a closure for the other end of the same, and locking means engaging the inner member and operable through centrifugal force to release the said inner member and the closure r carried by the same.

6. A uzzle comprising a hollow outer member aving its opening enlarged at the ends to form interior shoulders, a support ar ranged within one of the enlarged openings at the ends of the outer member, an inner mem-- ber extending through the outer member and having a closure fitting within the other end of the same, and locking means operable through centrifugal force and mounted on the support. for engaging the inner member.

7. A puzzle comprisinga cylindrical shell, a circular su port secured within one end of the shell and rotating therewith, said support being provided with a central opening,

chamber, a removableclosure for the, said' compartment or chamber concealing the same, and concealed locking means for retaiiiing the closure in place; said locking means being adapted to be operated through centrifugal force to release the closure to afiord access to the chamber or compartment;

9. A puzzle com rising a hollow outer rotary member or rol er, a closure for the outer member or roller arranged Within and fixed to the same and provided with an opening, a pin or handle member passing through the opening of the said closure and extending beyondboth ends of the outer member or roller,

and means concealed Within the outer mem-' her or roller and supported by the said 010 sure for engaging the pin or handle member for retaining the same in place.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. 7

JAMES Gr. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

HENRY L. KoPPIN, RUTH KOPPIN. 

